Can't use CTRL ALT DELETE!!!

[Xenogear900]

All of a sudden, I cannot use CTRL+ALT+DELETE to access my Task Manager. Whenever I enter those keys, I get an error message that say "Task Manager has been disabled by my administrator." I AM the administrator on this computer. At least, I'm pretty sure I set it up like that. When I boot the computer up, I don't have to Log On or anything like that.

I'm on Windows XP Pro.

How can I fix this or what are some things I can try?
Xenogear900@yahoo.com

[redwudz]

Do a Google search for 'CTRL ALT DELETE won't work'. You may find you have a virus. You could try booting into safe mode and see if the key combo works there. If so, that may confirm it. It may have disabled the 'CTRL ALT DELETE' to keep you from removing it. But if that's the problem, it may not be easy. There appear to be several variants.

Or, I could be wrong, but a virus seemed to be the most common cause.

[guns1inger]

You should be able to enable it again by changing the registry with the following values

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies \System
Name: DisableTaskMgr
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1=Enablethis key, that is DISABLE TaskManager
Value: 0=Disablethis key, that is Don't Disable, Enable TaskManager

However this doesn't just happen by accident, so either a virus or some particularly nasty malware has been and played with your system.

[me-eyes]

If you try CTRL + SHIFT + ESC this is the direct shortcut to task manager - do you still get the same problem? If so then someone/something has changed your permissions (most likely to stop you from checking/stopping something). Try starting up in safe mode and accessing the admin account - look at program access/defaults settings for your account. Have you tried running MSCONFIG to see any if unknown programs are starting?

[Squash]

I notice you're using yahoo. There's a yahoo messenger trojan called Magic PS that can produce the problem you describe. Check out this page for more info:
http://experts.about.com/q/Windows-XP-3282/Task-manager-disabled-19.htm

Good luck

[Xenogear900]

How can I REALLY tell if I'm infected by a virus/malware still?

I'm using Avast! AntiVirus usually, although I can get other antivirus programs. I like avast because it doesn't use a ton of memory up. What other antivirus programs are recommendable for the task I have stated?

Xenogear900@yahoo.com

[Jeremiah58]

Your PC is probably infected with RAT trojan called Magic PS, as Squash suggested.
Some antivirus programs will not detect nor remove trojans.
You should try Spybot - Search & Destroy, a very good freeware program (if you do not have it yet) or PestPatrol which claims that it will detect and remove this trojan:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/spywarecenter/pest.aspx?id=453084237

As for some other antivirus program - I would recommend NOD32 which detects and removes all kinds of viruses and most of trojans, and protects your PC from further infections.